Infectious Disease and Natural Disaster
The earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 was one of the worst natural disasters in history. According to Peranteau et al. (2010):
Immediately after the earthquake the need so vastly outstripped the resources that patients generally lacked basic identifiers and medical records […] Treatment plans were reduced to word of mouth. At first we used scraps of paper or cardboard taped to the patient … (p. 127)
Nearly a quarter of a million people were killed with another quarter of a million injured, and millions of people were displaced from their homes (World Health Organization, 2010). In the ensuing months, a cholera epidemic ravaged the already traumatized country. The destruction of infrastructure, contamination of water supply, and increased human vulnerability from displacement create favorable conditions for the spread of infectious diseases following natural disasters. Respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases are also commonly found encountered after floods, tsunamis, and other types of meteorological and geophysical disasters.
In the aftermath of such tragedies, priority is placed on implementing control measures to re-establish basic healthcare and prevent epidemics. Nurses often play important leadership roles in both domestic and international disaster response. For this Discussion, you consider disasters from an epidemiologic perspective and how nurses can address health outcomes following them.
References:
Peranteau, W. H., Havens, J. M., Harrington, S., & Gates, J. D. (2010). Re-establishing surgical care at Port-au-Prince General Hospital, Haiti.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons,
211(1), 126–130.
World Health Organization. (2010, September). Letter from the editor.
Focus: Emergency and Humanitarian Action,
5.
Resources
Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.
· Curley, A. L. C. (Ed.). (2024).
Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies for advanced practice (4th ed.). Springer.
· Chapter 12, “Implications of Global Health in Population-Based Nursing” (pp. 303-335)
· Maness, L. R. (2019). The effect of hurricanes on pathogenic diseases.
Journal of Environmental Health,
81(6), 16–20.
· Mavrouli, M., Mavroulis, S., Lekkas, E., & Tsakris, A. (2021).
Respiratory infections following earthquake-induced tsunamis: Transmission risk factors and lessons learned for disaster risk management.Links to an external site.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
18(9), Article 4952.
· Nuzzo, J. B., Meyer, D., Snyder, M., Ravi, S. J., Lapascu, A., Souleles, J., Andrada, C. I., & Bishai, D. (2019).
What makes health systems resilient against infectious disease outbreaks and natural hazards? Results from a scoping reviewLinks to an external site..
BMC Public Health,
19(1), Article 1310.
· World Health Organization. (2018, February 22).
Health inequities and their causes [Multimedia]Links to an external site.
.
· Global Epidemiology and Population Health
·
Time Estimate: 2 minutes
· Walden University, LLC. (2021).
Monitoring and controlling pandemicsLinks to an external site.[Interactive media]. Walden University Blackboard.
· Walden University. (2021, October 26).
Talks for good: Racial inequalities in healthcare [Video]Links to an external site.
. YouTube.
Note: The approximate length of this media piece 60 minutes.
To prepare:
· Consider the role of epidemiologic methods in preparing for or responding to natural disasters.
· Focus on global health initiatives, effects of natural disasters on health outcomes, and global health inequities and how they are magnified by natural disasters.
· Select a recent (within past 10 years) natural disaster. You may choose an event that occurred in the U.S. or internationally.
· Explore the current literature and identify the specific leadership roles that nurses have in mitigating negative health outcomes following disasters.
By Day 3 of Week 11
· Briefly describe your selected recent natural disaster.
· Discuss the health consequences of the disaster at the population level.
· Explain how the concepts of population health and epidemiology discussed in this course were or could have been used to assess the preparation and health outcomes after this disaster.
· Explain how the concepts of population health and epidemiology discussed in this course were or could have been used to mitigate negative health effects following this disaster.
· Describe the specific leadership roles that nurses have in mitigating negative health outcomes following disasters.
By Day 6 of Week 11
Respond to
at least two colleagues
on two different days in one or more of the following ways:
· Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
· Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
· Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
· Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
· Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
· Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
· RESPOND TO THIS DISCUSION POST
Response Denise
Hello Class,
Typhoon Yagi (1814) struck Shandong province with exceptional force, generating persistent heavy rainfall and extensive destruction. Zhou et al. (2025) noted its unusual kinetic energy patterns that intensified its impact. Sun et al. (2023) identified periodic precipitation patterns that triggered widespread flooding, while Zheng et al. (2022) observed distinctive cloud formations that differentiated Yagi from other typhoons like Lekima.
Health Consequences
Typhoon Yagi created severe health problems across affected populations, resulting in at least 844 deaths, 2,279 injuries, and 129 people missing across eight countries (Zhou et al., 2025). In Vietnam, 329 people were reported dead or missing with 1,929 injuries (Sun et al., 2023). Immediate effects included injuries from building collapses and drownings (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019).
Communities faced outbreaks of waterborne diseases including diarrhea, dysentery, and typhoid due to contaminated water systems (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024). Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever increased from standing water, while food-borne diseases spread due to refrigeration loss. Respiratory infections developed from dampness and shelter crowding, and skin infections occurred from prolonged exposure to contaminated floodwaters (Zheng et al., 2022).
Damaged healthcare facilities have limited access to medical care and medications. Elderly people, children, and those with existing health conditions faced the greatest risks (Curley, 2024). Psychological impacts included stress disorders and depression among survivors. Food shortages emerged as farmlands flooded, causing nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable groups.
Population Health and Epidemiology in Assessment
Population health concepts helped evaluate preparedness and outcomes after Typhoon Yagi. Risk assessment identified vulnerable groups before the disaster, enabling targeted evacuations (WHO, 2019). Mapping systems tracked population densities in flood-prone areas for better planning.
Health surveillance established baseline metrics for comparing post-disaster conditions (CDC, 2024). After the typhoon, rapid assessments using sampling methods determined health impact distribution. Disease monitoring systems tracked potential outbreaks, while epidemiological investigations located contamination sources for targeted interventions (Curley, 2024).
Population Health and Epidemiology in Mitigation
Population health approaches helped reduce negative health impacts following Typhoon Yagi. Disease surveillance identified potential outbreak areas, enabling early intervention (CDC, 2024). Officials implemented preventive measures including water treatment, insect control, and vaccinations based on epidemiological findings.
Population screening located people needing urgent medical attention, particularly those with interrupted treatments (WHO, 2019). Health equity frameworks ensured vulnerable populations received appropriate care despite limited resources. Environmental monitoring assessed contamination levels, informing public advisories (Curley, 2024). Mental health screenings facilitated early psychological support, reducing long-term trauma impacts.
Nursing Leadership Roles
Nurses fulfilled critical leadership functions following Typhoon Yagi. They organized triage operations, prioritizing care for vulnerable patients and optimizing limited resources (Curley, 2024). Nurses conducted community assessments, identifying individuals with special needs and developing targeted care plans.
Nurses collected and analyzed health data to identify emerging disease patterns (WHO, 2019). They led community education on water safety, disease prevention, and mental health coping strategies. Nurses maintained care continuity for chronic disease patients despite system disruptions (CDC, 2024). As mental health providers, they delivered psychological first aid and screened for trauma disorders. Their advocacy ensured population health needs were integrated into recovery planning, while their cultural awareness facilitated effective communication with diverse communities.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About disaster epidemiology.
Curley, A. L. C. (Ed.). (2024). Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies for advanced practice (4th ed.). Springer.
Sun, S., Chen, B., Sun, J., Sun, Y., Diao, X., & Wang, Q. (2023). Periodic characteristics and cause analysis of continuous heavy rainfall induced by Typhoon Yagi (1814) in Shandong. Gaoyuan Qixiang, 42(4), 962-977.
to an external site.
World Health Organization. (2019). Health emergency and disaster risk management framework.
Zheng, Q., Mao, C., Ding, L., Liao, J., Pan, X., Liu, P., Lei, Y., & Huang, Y. (2022). Comparison of cloud characteristics between Typhoon Lekima(1909) and Typhoon Yagi(1814). Applied Meteorological Journal, 33(1), 43-55.
to an external site.
Zhou, G., Liu, L., & Huang, B. (2025). Comparative analysis of kinetic energy budget of Typhoons Yagi and Rumbia. Tropical Cyclone Research & Review, 14(1), 13-26.
to an external site.
